Scott Walker on Foreign Policy

Republican Wisconsin Governor

China launched a cyber-attack; send a message now

When it comes to China, why would we be giving an official state visit to a country that's been involved in a massive cyber attack against the United States? That's not just a visit, that's a 21 gun salute on the South Lawn of the White House.
It just doesn't make any sense. If we're ever going to send a message to them, wouldn't this be the time, when they've issued this massive attack against us?

Against nuclear deal with Iran; keep state sanctions

Fifteen Republican governors wrote a letter to President Obama opposing the Iran nuclear deal: "If implemented, this agreement would lead to the lifting of United States nuclear-related sanctions on Iran without any guarantee that Iran's drive toward
obtaining a nuclear weapon will be halted or even slowed. Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism, and it should not be permitted any pathway toward obtaining a nuclear weapon, now or ever. The lifting of federal sanctions that will result from this
agreement will only result in Iran having more money available to fund terrorist groups and attacks. The people of our states will not be safer as a result of this agreement, much less citizens of countries like Israel which Iran has threatened to
destroy.

"Many of our states have divestment policies as well as restrictions against state contractors doing business with the government of Iran. We intend to ensure that the various state-level sanctions that are now in effect remain in effect."

Tore into Obama administration's nuclear deal with Iran

After Ted Cruz, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker was one of the most talked-about candidates of the weekend. Attendees, many of them Southerners from right-to-work states themselves, expressed admiration for his work taking on unions in the Midwest,
and a number of RedStaters interviewed said they were deciding between Cruz and Walker. Cruz was inspirational, they said--but they were also impressed by what they knew of Walker's record of winning elections and taking on labor in Wisconsin.
His address Saturday afternoon, which closed out the convention and relied heavily on his usual stump speech, was well-received by a crowd that hasn't seen as much of him yet.
And while some have questioned whether the governor is deeply versed in foreign policy, that portion of his speech--especially when he tore into the Obama administration's nuclear deal with Iran--earned him a rousing standing ovation.

When America leads, we build alliances in Mideast

Q: In February you said that we needed to gain partners in the Arab world. Which Arab country not already in the U.S. led coalition has potential to be our greatest partner?

WALKER: We need to focus on the ones we have.
You look at Egypt, probably the best relationship we've had in Israel, at least in my lifetime, incredibly important. You look at the Saudis--in fact, earlier this year, I met with Saudi leaders, and leaders from the United Arab Emirates, and
I asked them what's the greatest challenge in the world today? Set aside the Iran deal. They said it's the disengagement of America. We are leading from behind under the Obama-Clinton doctrine--America's a great country.
We need to stand up and start leading again, and we need to have allies, not just in Israel, but throughout the Persian Gulf.

Every country Hillary Clinton touched has gotten worse

We spent a lot of time talking about Hillary Clinton and pitting us back and forth. Let's be clear, we should be talking about Hillary Clinton on that last subject
[of misuse of donations to her foundation], because everywhere in the world that Hillary Clinton touched is more messed up today than before she and the president. It's true.

Foreign policy is about leadership, not PhD's

Walker was asked what was he doing to prepare to be president, because "the feedback was you were not prepared to speak about foreign policy."

Walker responded by ticking through his recent itinerary of face time with foreign policy luminaries: a
breakfast with Henry Kissinger, a huddle with George Shultz and tutorials at the American Enterprise Institute and the Hoover Institute. But then Walker suggested that didn't much matter: "I think foreign policy is something that's not just about having
a PhD or talking to PhD's," he said. "It's about leadership."

Walker contended that "the most significant foreign policy decision of my lifetime" was then-President Ronald Reagan's move to bust a 1981 strike of air traffic controllers, firing some
11,000 of them. "It sent a message not only across America, it sent a message around the world," Walker said. America's allies and foes alike became convinced that Reagan was serious enough to take action and that "we weren't to be messed with," he said.

Terrorists are cowards who are afraid of freedom

Last week, innocent people were targeted in France by terrorists [killing staff of Charlie Hebdo, a political news magazine which had run cartoons mocking Mohammed]. These cowards are not symbols of confidence. They are overwhelmed by fear.
They are afraid of freedom.

They are afraid of those who have the freedom of the press. They are afraid of freedom of speech. They are afraid of freedom of religion.
Tonight, we must stand together--Democrat and Republican--and denounce those who wish to threaten freedom anywhere in this world. We need to proclaim that an attack against freedom-loving
people anywhere is an attack against us all. And we will not allow it. When we take a stand, we will make it easier to work for freedom and prosperity--right here in Wisconsin.